March 16th, 2017:

New England Power Grid’s Ample Capacity Proves Dire Predictions Wrong

Dire predictions that power plant closures in New England would strain electricity supply so far are proving to be wrong, according to a recent article in the Portland Press Herald. An auction conducted last month by the region’s grid operator to meet demand in 2021 attracted more than enough power, and at the lowest prices since 2013, the article states.

Advocates for building new natural gas pipelines to serve New England have argued that the region needs more natural gas to prevent energy prices from increasing. The proposed pipelines have been shot down by state courts and agencies who oppose the notion of making ratepayers pay for pipeline construction costs, and yet electricity bills are decreasing rather than increasing.

“The lower clearing price and surplus capacity are indicative of a market that works,” Robert Ethier, vice president of market operations at ISO-New England, told the Press Herald.

Homeowners can see this trend on their bills, according to the Press Herald. “For a typical home in southern Maine that uses 550 kilowatt-hours of electricity a month, the energy portion of the bill fell from $55 a decade ago to $36.30 last year,” the article states.

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